Improvement in harvesters



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GRANT T. OOOLMAN AND CHARLES M. YOUNG, OF COREY, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 88,453, dated March 30,1869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GRANT T. COOLMAN and CHARLES M. YOUNG, both ofCorry, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Harvesters, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

First. The object of the first part of our invention is so to arrangethe inner shoe that it shall mark a continuous track, whether thefiuger-beam is raised or not, and yet leave the finger-beam free to riseor fall at either end, (to conform to inequalities of the surface overwhich it slides,) independently of the other,

and without affecting the movements of the main or gearing frame; andour improvement consists in a novel method of combining with aharvester, substantially as hereinafter specified, a U-shaped frameembracing the inner driving-wheel, pivoted at its ends to the main framein front and rear of the driving-wheel, having a shoe rigidly secured toits outer front corner, and a laterally-projecting cutting apparatuspivoted to play vertically at a right angle to the shoe.

Second. The object of the next part of our invention is to allow thefinger-beam to conform freely to inequalities of thesurface over whichit slides, and to rise and fall freely at either end independently ofthe other, or at both ends, without affecting the movements of the mainframe, and yet secure a strong connection; and our improvement consistsin a novel method, hereinafter described, of combining with a rigidU-shaped coupling-frame,

pivoted to play vertically both in front and rear of the wheels, a fixedshoe secured to its outer front corner, and a cutting apparatus securedat one end only to a long rocking brace-bar parallel with theface of thedrivingwheel, and pivoted in front in the shoe and in rear to thecouplin g-frame, with both pivots in nearly the same horizontal frame,and so arranged as always to remain parallel with the crank-shaft.

Third. The object of the next part of our invention is to enable thedriver to raise either end of the cutting apparatus independently of theother, or to lift the entire cutting apparatus bodily; and ourimprovement consists in a novel method, hereinafter described, ofcombining with avibrating coupling-frame a finger-beam, hinged to thisframe at its heel end by a joint parallel with the line of motion of themachine, and carrying a stud secured upon and turning with the pivot ofthe fin ger-beam, and a locking-lever, which, when vibrated by thedriver, bears against the stud and lifts first the divider end of thecutting apparatus, and then the entire cutting apparatus, to pass overobstructions or from field to field.

Fourth. The object of the next part of our invention is to protect thedevices for looking and lifting the cutting apparatus from becomingclogged; and our improvement consists in a novel method of combining averticallyvibrating coupling-frame, a fixed shoe, and a fin ger-beamhinged to the shoe with looking lifting devicesinclosed within the shoe.

Fifth. The object of the next part of our invention is to have a compactarrangement of the gearing, while securing greater speed than usual, bythe use of a triple-geared drivingmeohan ism instead of the usualdoublegeared mechanism; and our improvement consists in a novel methodof combining a spur-wheel on the main axle, a spur-pinion on acounter-shaft parallel with said axle, a bevel-wheel on thecounter-shaft, driving a shaft at right angles to the main axle, andcarrying an internal spur-wheel, driving a crank-shaft longer than thediameter of the driving-wheels, and driving the cutters by a crank andpitman, as hereinafter more fully described.

Sixth. The object of the next part of our invention is to bring thepitman as nearly in line with the cutting apparatus as ,is consistentwith clearing the out crop; and our improvement consists in arrangingthe second shaft at a lower level than the main axle, and thecrank-shaft below the one preceding it, as hereinafter described, sothat the pitman may be brought down to the proper level.

In the accompanying drawing we have shown all our improvements asembodied in one machine. It is, however, obvious that different parts ofour invention may be applied to many of the organized harvesters of thepresent day.

Figure 1 is a plan or top View of our improved harvester. Fig. 2 is avertical longitudinal section through the machine. Fig. 3 is a view,partly in elevation and partly in section, of a portion of the machineas seen from the front. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectionthrough the inner shoe and couplingbrace. Fig. 5 is avertical-transverse section through the shoe, showing the finger-beamparallel with the ground; and Fig. 6, a similar view of the same, withthe divider end of the finger-beam elevated.

In this instance we have shown a main axle, A, Figs. 1 and 2, carryingtwo driving-wheels, B B, turning loosely on the axle, with which theyare connected by backing ratchets of well-known construction. (See Fig.3.)

The gearing is supported by and inclosed in a trough-shaped cast-metalcasing, 0, provided with a projecting flange, 0. Pipe-boxes D D, cast onthe flange of this frame, form bearings for the main axle A.

The lower halves of the bearings of all the shafts which carry thegearing are cast in one piece with this frame or trough O, and thusrequire no adjustment to secure them in their proper places.

A spur-wheel, E, turns loosely on the main axle, with which it isconnected by a sliding clutch and feather in the usual way. Thisspur-wheel drives a corresponding pinion, E,

on a counter-shaft, e, in front of, parallel with, and slightly belowthe main axle, as shown in Fig. 4:.

A bevel-wheel, F, on the counter -shaft drives a corresponding pinion,f, on a shaft, F, arranged transversely beneath the main axle, andcarrying an internally-geared spurwheel, Gr, which drives a smallspur-pinion on a crank-shaft, G, which extends forward to the frontofthe frame at a still lower level than any of the other shafts.

A balance-wheel 011 the forward end of the crank-shaft drives thecutters in the usual way by a crank and pitman, It.

It will be observed that the gearing (balance-wheel and all) is entirelyinclosed within the casing, and the pitman plays through a slot in theside of the casing.

Our machine, it will be observed, is triplegeared, which enables us togive a high speed to our cutters. WVe do not, however, claim the triplegearing broadly.

By placing the second shaft, F, below the main axle, and the crank-axlebelow the second shaft, we can bring the crank as nearly in line withthe cutter-bar as is consistent with clearing the cut crop and keep themain frame always horizontal.

The tongue T is rigidly fastened to the inner flange of the casing O,and a seat, S, for the driver is mounted on a spring-standard secured onthe tongue.

A three-sided or U-shaped couplin g-frame, m, is hinged to play freelyvertically on pivots 0, near the middle of the trough. Ashoe, L, bypreference made hollow, is secured to the inner front corner of thiscoupling-frame. A finger beam, 0, provided with suitable guards andcutters, is secured to a long brace, P, pivoted at its rear end in alugunderneath the coupling frame. The front end of this brace carriesa'pivot, p, which passes through the back of the shoe, and has a stud,u, of the form shown in Figs. 8 and 9, fixed thereon. The finger-beam isthus free to rise and fall at either end, and is securely braced.

To lift the divider end of the finger-beam, we pivot a rocking lever orlifting-latch, J, in the shoe beneath the stud u, and connect one of itsends with a lifting-lever, V, on the main frame by means of a cord, '0,passing over a pulley on the coupling-frame and another pulley on thetongue.

When the driver first draws on the liftingcord the lever f strikes thetoe of the stud u and lifts the divider end of the finger-beam, as shownin Fig. 10. A continuance of this lifting motion lifts thecoupling-frame and the heel end of the finger-beam. The outer end of thefinger-beam is provided with a suitable divider, track-clearer, andgrain-wheel.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-- 1. The combination, in a harvester, of two main wheels, a mainframe carrying the gearing, a coupling-frame such as described, and ashoe secured to the coupling-frame with the finger-beam, pivoted to butturning independently of the shoe, as set forth.

2. The combination, with the three-sided coupling-frame and its fixedshoe, of the fin gerbeam secured to the long rocking brace-bar, havingone pivot in the shoe and the other in the couplin g-frame, but both onthe same level,-

as set forth.

3. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the finger-beam, studu, lifringlever f, for the purpose specified.

4.. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the coupling-frame,shoe, and hinged finger-beam with locking lifting devices inclosedwithin the shoe.

5. The combination of the main axle, the counter-shaft, the secondshaft, F, and the long crank-shaft with their respective gears, whenarranged and operating as described, for driving the cutters.

6. The arrangement of the second shaft, F, below the main axle, and thecrank-shaft below the shaft F, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names.

GRANT T. GOOLMAN. 7 CHARLES M. YOUNG.

Witnesses:

D. GEO. SHRYooK, J. S. FIsK.

